“Rock the Doc” Young Adult Cancer Awareness Campaign Offers Two-Carat Diamond Reward for Going to the Doctor

The 15-40 Connection urges 15-40 year olds to “Rock the Doc” and commit to catching cancer early when it’s easier to treat

Grand prize winner will receive a two-carat diamond ring - a $30,000 retail value

Worcester, MA - May 17, 2010 - Shocked by the fact that cancer is the number one disease-related cause of death among 15-40 year olds and that young adult cancer survival rates have barely changed since 1975, the 15-40 Connection today announced a movement to "Rock the Doc" - a social media campaign aimed at motivating 15-40 year olds to be more aware of their health and schedule regular physical exams, important steps to help catch cancer early when it's easier to treat.

This year, nearly 70,000 Americans aged 15-40 will be diagnosed with cancer - 1 every 8 minutes on average. Although most cancers in young adults are not preventable, they can be detected earlier if young adults make a commitment to seeing their doctor regularly for physical exams, become aware of any negative change in their body and take immediate action.

The "Rock the Doc" campaign provides the ultimate motivation. Simply by logging on to www.15-40.org/rockthedoc by November 30, young adults ages 15-40 can enter to win a two-carat diamond ring with a retail value of $30,000. Additional prizes include an Apple iPad, three Kodak PlaySport HD Waterproof Pocket Video Cameras, three Nintendo Wii with Nintendo Wii Sports systems and three Apple 8GB iPod Touches. Winners will be announced in December.

According to 15-40 Connection medical advisor and oncologist Dr. Karen Albritton, cancer is often the furthest thing from a young adult's mind, even though it is the number #1 disease-related cause of death in 15-40 year olds. "People don't think it will happen to them so they often ignore subtle changes in their health and don't make time for regular physical exams," said Dr. Albritton. "This sense of invincibility, along with physicians' hesitancy to consider cancer in a young adult, often results in delayed diagnoses that can limit treatment options. Early detection can make all the difference."

Once entered in the 15-40 Connection "Rock the Doc" contest, entrants will receive email reminders of their upcoming doctor's appointment so they can make it a priority.  The 15-40.org Resources page also provides helpful tools for understanding the impact of family history on cancer, the 10 most common young adult cancers and where to go if you don't have health insurance.

"The Rock the Doc campaign truly is a movement to get young adults to pay closer attention to their health and realize that cancer can happen to them," said Jim Coghlin, Sr., founder of the 15-40 Connection. "By becoming aware of the problem, advocating for your health and taking immediate action, we can make a dramatic improvement in the survival rates of 15-40 year olds diagnosed with cancer every year."

Become part of the Rock the Doc movement at www.15-40.org/rockthedoc.

Become a fan of the 15-40 Connection on Facebook before June 1 and $1 will be donated to raising cancer awareness among 15-40 year olds. Visit www.15-40.org for news, resources and stories about how 15-40 year olds can help raise awareness for early cancer detection through advocacy and action.

About the 15-40 Connection

The 15-40 Connection's mission is to create awareness that cancer is the #1 disease-related cause of death among 15-40 year olds and promote early detection through awareness, advocacy and action.

For more information about the 15-40 Connection and the Rock the Doc campaign, please visit www.15-40.org/rockthedoc. Become our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @1540Connection and tune into our YouTube Channel "The1540Connection."

Media Contact:

Dawn Sullivan
Hart-Boillot for the 15-40 Connection
781-893-0053
dsullivan@hartboillot.com